Process for atomizing metals in a state of fusion.



F. C. UCAR.

PROCESS FOR ATOMIZING METALS IN A STATE OF FUSION. APPLICATION FILED JULY 6. I915- 1,245,536. Patented Nov. 6,1917.

F'|E.1. FIE.Z.

b o M ,1 b K \b Witnesss- Inventor W L UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FLOBENCIO COMAMALA UGAR, OF MADRID, SPAIN. i PROCESS FOR AT OMIZING METALS IN A. sTATE OF FUSION.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FLoRENcIo COMAMALA UcAR, a subject of the King of Spain, residing at 9 Rue Libertad, Madrid, in the Kingdom of Spain, have invented a certain new and useful Process for Atomizing Met als in aState of Fusion, of which the following is a specification.

It is known that if in the formation of a voltaic arc one or more metal electrodes are employed, these metal electrodes become fused in the zones between which the arc passes; among other applications, the various methods of electric welding are based upon this fact.

On the other hand, if a liquid body is acted upon by a gaseous current that is capable of carrying it along with it, this body is divided into particles of a greater or less degree of tenuity in accordance with the fluidity of the body and the violence of the gaseous current.

Given these facts, if a voltaic arc has been established between two electrodes at least one of which is metallic and a nonoxidizing gaseous current be caused to impinge upon the metallicelectrode, the portion of this electrode which had fused is carried along and atomized and can be directed against a body upon whose surface it will form a metallic film whose quality and de cc of adherence will vary in accordance wlth the condition of this surface.

One of the objects of the invention is to improve such a process for the production 0 tion of the non-oxidizing gaseous current.

According to the invention the current of non-oxidizing gas is directed'upon the electrode or electrodes in such manner that while pass' over or impinging upon the electrode oi' ectrodes, it oes not reach the are which is formed without contact of the electrodes.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shows in front elevation, by way of example, an arrangement for carrying the invention into practice.

Fig. 2 is a corresponding side elevation.

Figs. 3 and 4 are front and side elevations of another arrangement embodying the invention, and,

Figs. 5 and 6 tions' of a third In order that preliminary are front and side elevaarrangement. the arc may be maintained Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 6, 1915. Serial No. 88,862.

.tion that has been and metallic films with reference to the ac- Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

notwithstanding the wear of the electrodes, t is sufiicient to feed them by employing any appropriate mechanism for this purpose. In order that the arc may be formed and maintained notwithstanding the gaseous current which serves for atomizing the porfused, the following arrangements may be adopted. I

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, E is an electrode of metal or other conducting substance whose atomization is not material to the carrying out of the invention and which consequently may present such dimensions effect such movements and which may also be cooled in such a manner that its fusion or volatilization is m'l or inappreciable for practical purposes. a is the metallic electrode that it is desired to fuse and atomize and which is generally constituted by wiresin order readily with currents of relatively weak intensity; this electrode is fed in the direction indicated by the arrow f in proportion as it wears. b, b are two twyers discharging the gaseous currents serving to atomize the metal in a state of fusion; these twyers are arranged in such. a manner that the gaseous currents they discharge merely pass along the conductor a without impinging against the voltaic arc itself, in order not to extinguish it. In the. first place, however, it is necessary to provide for the striking of the voltaic are between the electrodes and a, which never contact; moreover, for the continuity and the uniformity of the operation, it is essential that the voltaicarc should be again struck automatically if 1t should be extinguished as a result of eddies or rushes of gas which might form or as a result of any other disturbing cause. For this purpose the method may be employed which forms-the subject matter for another application for Patent No. 38363-dated the 6th July 1915 covering a method of forming a voltaic are between electrodes that are not in contact, in maintaining the auxlhary current which causes the arc to be struck to effect its fusion more during the entire time that the atomization of the electrodes 11 is to continue.

The same process is generalized in the following manner as represented 1n Flgs. 3 and 4.

Referring to these figures, the two electrodes a a, are caused to advance in converging lines; before contact is produced between these electrodes, the voltaic arc is struck by the special method formingthe subject matter of another application for patent already referred to and covering a method of forming a voltaic are between electrodes not in contact; the gaseous currents which issue from the twyers b, b, b, b, impinge against the electrodes and produce the atomization of the portion of these electrodes that has fused and the metal thus atomized can be projected against any body of any kind upon whose surface it will form a metallic film of a quality and degree of adhesion varying with the condition of this surfac'e. In order to prevent the possibility of contact between the electrodes a, a, in the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the electrodes may be arranged along intersecting lines as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6 with the gaseous jets impinging against each electrode arranged in the manner diagrammatically represented in Figs. 3 and 4 for each electrode.

1. A process for atomizing metals in a state of fusion and projecting them on to a surface for the pu ose of forming adherent or detachable meta lic films, in which an arc is produced between two electrodes one at least of which is formed of the metal which is to be atomized and a blast is caused to atomize the fused metal, consisting in directing gaseous currents upon the electrode or electrodes that are to be atomized so as to pass over or impinge against the said electrode or electrodes and so as not to reach the are, substantially as described.

2; A process for atomizing metals in a state of fusion and projecting them on to a surface for the purpose of forming adherent or detachable metallic films, in which an arc is produced between two electrodes one at least of which is formed of the metal which is to be atomized and in which a blast is caused to atomize the fused metal, consisting in directing gaseous currents upon the electrode or electrodes that are to be atomized on each side thereof, so as to pass over or to impinge against the said electrode or electrodes and so as not to reach the arc, substantially as described.

3. A process for atomizing metals in a state of fusion and projecting them on to a surface for the purpose of forming adherent or detachable metallic films, in which an arc is produced between two electrodes oneat least of which is formed of the metal which is to be atomized and in which a blast is used to atomize the fused metal, consisting in arranging the electrodes out of alinement and in directing gaseous currents on each side of the electrode or electrodes that are to be atomized so as to pass over or to impinge against the said electrode or electrodes and so as not to reach the arc, substantially as described.

FLORENGIO COMAMALA UGAR.

Witnesses:

JOA UIN PLA GALLARDo, M. LLORENS. 

